Christine Plays Viola is a gothic rock and dark wave band that recently released a new album titled "F.I.V.E.", which translates to "Fear Increases Violent Emotions". The album features a psychological exploration of feelings of guilt, obsession, and mental distress, with a video that symbolizes fragmented dreams and horror aesthetics. You can listen to and purchase the album on their Bandcamp page.
Be ready for a haunting psychological descent into guilt, obsession, and mental collapse. Symbolic, abstract, and disturbing, this video unfolds like a fractured dream, driven by VHS textures, analog noise, and slow hypnotic pacing. Inspired by 80s horror, gothic aesthetics, and dark cinematic storytelling.
Sprout of Disharmony: has a bit the same feeling as what I call the darkest The Cure Album (Pornography). Enjoy the dark retro sound and the great vocals (that sound crystal clear). It’s a real horror show track! I adore the guitar play!
My Redemption start with an electronic feel and a hard but slowly hitting dum pedal. Once the dreamy guitar sound jump in the global setting changes into a slow gothic rock one with vocals that could come from the real and only one: Dracula.
You Don’t Fool Me: has a higher tempo, but the vocals focus mostly on telling the story (whilst the guitars shred from time to time, just like at the same time the drums hit harder).
Desolate Moments: combine great guitar play with excellent layers coming from the synthesizer whilst the vocals add darkness and some hypnotic feel.
Confession dives into a mix of The Sisters of Mercy and Whispers in The Shadows. Retro New Wave lovers will absolutely love this one! It’s a sharp one with a good chorus and an excellent band!
There’s No Going Back: starts with an epic feel and could have become a metal track but changes slowly into a gothic rock track. It’s the hardest track on the album. Once again I love the guitar play (bas guitar included). The song has a great tempo and is clearly well fuelled (like Siglo XX on Speed)!
Black Noise: is a mash up between Red Zebra and Siglo XX (anno 2026). It’s like mixing old school Punk/Wave with modern Gothic and New Wave. I like the tempo and the vocals.
The Crypt Of Misery has nice crystal clear vocals, top notch percussion and sharp guitar play whilst the drums sound neat. Well fuelled old school New Wave! The lyrics are really dark!
Jackie’s Curse: mixes punk with gothic rock and a bit of an industrial minded slice! It’s fast, hard and ready to explode on stage!
Blood Calls Blood: calls in for a last blast with slices from the 80’s and renewed energy! Dive deeper into the darkness and scream the chorus along with the band! It’s possibly the best song on the whole album! What a banger!
Oho Italy: I heard great stuff! You amazed me in the most positive way! I was blown out of my socks! The whole album is an absolute banger! Fans of retro and New Wave anno 2026 must give this album a spin! Just check the links underneath!
Check this old interview: SNOOZECONTROL - Interview: Christine Plays Viola
Christine Plays Viola - Official Website | The Dark Is Coming
F.I.V.E. Fear Increases Violent Emotions | Christine Plays Viola
